“Passion and adventure are my GPS”

A lot of my life is led by either passion or the thrill of adventure.

I have sure had a few.

I have always found that following this GPS, it allows the blinkers to be removed.

The fire reignited, rest, joy, the sparkle of life to shine again.

Most importantly I love regaling about the adventures had and ones to come.

This time my GPS led me North, to the beautiful rusty plains, and spa warm waters of Exmouth. If you have come into the clinic in the last week, you would have heard some tales already.

I do love a good laugh and the burn of memories to last a lifetime.

At the invitation of my best friend getting married up there and being a grooms-woman.

I embarked on a three-week solo adventure.

Me, my car (now named Jolene) and my swag.

Beginning with an eight-hour drive to Shark Bay.

First up I swam with the Dolphins, I learned so much about them.

Swam at the main beach in Denham to then set up camp.

Cooked dinner, then to lose my mind over the swarming flies and bugs.

That night I didn’t know if I was eating moths or rice.

Very important lesson learnt, cook before sunset in the camp kitchen!

I walked the stromatolites and Eagle Bluff, counted lemon and Tiger Sharks.

Enjoyed the early nights, to be awoken by my view of the picturesque sunrises.

Lots of rest, this is the life.

Next stop, Wooramel Riverside Campsites. I cannot talk about this place enough.

The communal fire, yarns with fellow travellers, Artesian bore baths at 32 degrees to start, not to mention the stunning array of birds, walking trails, and 4wd tracks.

The overall ambience was bliss. However, the experience also came with other species of wildlife that enjoyed hanging out on my swag.

I met some amazing people along this journey from different walks of life.

I was able to join in some yoga classes run by other campers, learnt where not to go and some amazing secret spots, to then be invited over for drinks and espresso martinis. This is when I decided, yep, I need an off-road caravan.

Then I arrived in EXMOUTH.

Nothing like an early morning start on the road making you get out of bed at the crack of dawn to pack up your setup and a lovely visit from a wolf spider on my hand to send me screaming, waking up the campsite at six in the morning.

Thank goodness for the kindness and braveness of strangers coming to my rescue.

Now Exmouth. This place left me speechless and feeling more at home than I have ever felt from the moment my feet hit the dusty earth.

The warm sunshine, cold beer, turquoise waters and the friendly locals.

If you have never been, it is a must visit. Turquoise Bay is probably one of my most favourite places to snorkel and relax by the beach. The ‘drift’ area is incredible.

Slip on your flippers, slop on your snorkel and paddle out to then be carried down the beach by a natural current. The abundance of sea life is out of this world.

The colours of the coral and fish left me stunned.

I spent my entire first day out in the water. Swimming out to the drift, floating down, getting out, walking back up. Repeat.

To get my next fix of snorkelling, I booked a snorkel tour with Cape Immersion tours.

My amazing tour guides Coki and Janine were top notch. We took off in Coki banana yellow boat and snorkelled the afternoon away.

Chasing the afternoon rays with the Turtles, Dolphins, Sharks and Dugongs.

Coki and Janine’s knowledge of sea life was incredible.

While at Exmouth, I did a whale shark tour and dive, my word the experience of a lifetime. Would happily do it again! The tour guides had a wealth of knowledge about Whale Sharks. On this particular day we were lucky enough to be able to swim with three, all measuring around 5 metre, 6.5 metre and an 8 metre.

Just such Majestic and breathtaking creatures.

The patterning on their skin allows them to blend into the sun speckled water.

From Exmouth to Bullara Station. The home of Lava trees and outdoor showers. Campfire dinners, damper and sheep ruling the yards.

I happened to be there during the full moon. What a stunning station.

Open Season is from April to September. Along this trip, I was guzzling about 1.5 litres of water while driving. I was dehydrated and shrivelled from hours on the boat and in the sea gently chasing whale sharks and fish. I choked badly and had to pull over coughing and spluttering. On my hands and knees, pulling in air to calm my ragged water coated lungs. Then it's quiet. I can’t hear my car running. I turn around. There goes Jolene!

trundling down Brand highway. *$%* I chase after my car, jump in and pull the hand brake. That was close. That was like a scene from Dukes of Hazard.

Next, I hit up the much spoken about Coral Bay for a few hours on my way through to Carnarvon. I like to push things you see. I didn’t want to pay the $1.70/litre to fill up my car. I had enough to get to the next station with 20km left in the tank, so I made it to Minilya station. They had NO diesel. Well, sh*! The lady told me the truck would be here by 2pm. I figured I could wait half an hour.

Got out my picnic rug and a good book…. 4pm goes by, Still no truck.

Some road workers came by and checked on me. I ensured my car is in good health just out of diesel. They gave me cheek for being cheap. Yeah, I deserved that.

They then offered me dinner and a beer. They offered me diesel from one of their trucks. It honestly felt like a moment from Mathew McCaughey’s book ‘Greenlights’. These men were some of the nicest Aussie’s I had met, Down to earth and friendly. Godbless them.

The truck arrived just before 7pm, fuelled up and continued on my adventure. Got to Quobba station, the setup camp and was asleep by 9pm. What a day!

The blow holes were beautiful at Quobba and so was the aquarium. Ensure you pack flippers, otherwise, you would be like me and end up on the Island on the other side. Heart racing, I have never kicked my little legs so hard and fast to the other side. I didn’t enter the water again after that. Haha.

As I finished off my trip with another visit to Wooramel and then onto a beach side camp just outside of Jurien Bay.

Safe to say the trip was amazing and I encourage anyone that is thinking of doing a solo adventure, do it ! No better way to find yourself and see what you are made of than a trip like that. However, if you have a family or partner, still do it!

The Western Australian shores have much to offer and see!

MUST DO’s:

· Whale Shark Tour and Dive

· Froth brewery

· Whale Bone Brewery (for a sneaky bevy and some good pizza)

· Turquoise Bay

PLACES STILL ON MY LIST:

· Mt Augustus

· Karinijini

· Broome

To name a few.

Next up? Kununurra!

You can follow more behind the scenes, road trip action or learn about tips and tricks for pain and injuries on IG at @theotplace

-Tarsha X

A Traveller's Story